During recent years, there was a steady growth in the gross harvest of potatoes in Moscow region, production capacities for processing of agricultural crop have been also increasing. However, based on 2020 results, the yield is still highly dependent on weather conditions and, in particular, on the amount of precipitation during the growing period. Therefore, in order to obtain sustainable yields, it is necessary to maintain the optimal values of the water-air balance, that consider conduction of agromeliorative measures, including additional irrigation. The most economical is drip irrigation among the moisturizing activities. It allows to deliver irrigation water directly to the root zone. This will significantly reduce the cost of water and electricity; however, the maximum benefits of drip irrigation may be obtained by revise and calculation of the irrigation rates. Suggested irrigation rates do not take into account the elliptical shape of the humidification contour, which leads to overestimated rates for it. The method for calculating the irrigation rate proposed in the article, takes into account the shape of the humidification contour that enables to use irrigation water wisely.
The article examines statistical data on the amount of precipitation in the spring - summer period and substantiates the need for irrigation measures when growing potatoes in the Moscow region. The rationality of the use of drip irrigation as the most economical and effective method of watering has been proved. With drip irrigation, there is practically no danger of excessive watering, causing the leaching of nutrients from the root layer, an increase in the level of groundwater, and an additional load on the drainage network. The use of drip irrigation will make it possible to maintain an optimal water and air balance during the growing season. The possibility of combining technological operations for laying a drip tape and forming potato ridges is considered. It is found that the resistance of the drip tape laying will not create significant traction resistance, so the working equipment can be mounted on the ridge former. The design of a drip tape stacker based on the Grimme GF-75/4 ridge former was developed and a mechanized drip tape was laid in a potato ridge. It has been proven that the implementation of the drip tape laying and the formation of ridges with one machine will increase the productivity of the work and reduce the energy consumption.
Over the past two years, decrease in potato yield has been observed in the Moscow region. One of the main reasons is unfavorable weather conditions. To obtain a guaranteed yield, as well as to improve the quality of products, it is necessary to carry out reclamation works, including additional irrigation. Creation of the optimal water - air balance of the plant throughout the entire growing season will increase productivity, and improve the quality of agricultural products. Drip irrigation is the most economical method of irrigation, but its widespread use is hindered by the high proportion of manual labor when installing the drip tape. A mechanized method of laying the drip tape by placing the working equipment on the Grimme GF-75/4 comb former is offered. The existing methods for determining the irrigation rate do not consider the parameters of the humidification circuit, which leads to excessive irrigation and additional losses of irrigation water. The paper offers a method for determining the irrigation rate considering the shape of the humidification circuit and its geometric parameters.
The necessity of carrying out work on deep loosening in lands newly introduced into agricultural circulation in soils of heavy mechanical composition, as well as destruction of the subsoil on old arable lands have been analyzed. Requirements for the work on deep loosening of the soil are grounded. The existing designs of reclamation rippers are considered and a passive two-row subsoiler with front shanks of a volumetric structure and rear curved shanks with additional plowshares is selected. The possibility of combining work on deep loosening and application of organic fertilizers to increase soil fertility, water and air permeability, and create the most favorable soil conditions for plant growth and development has been investigated. The existing rates of fertilization have been analyzed and the possibility of delivering an organic liquid to the enlarged pore space formed after soil loosening has been investigated. The influence of the ongoing agro-reclamation measures on increasing soil fertility, creating an optimal water and air balance for the growth and development of agricultural crops and the expected increase in yield are analyzed.
Based on the results of the research, a methodology for calculating the irrigation rate was compiled, taking into account the parameters of the moistening circuit, the characteristics of soil conditions and the general mineralization of irrigation water. Hydrocarbonate calcium waters predominate in the Central region, the total mineralization varies widely depending on the time of year and the type of water source. It is proved that this parameter affects the nature and rate of formation of the irrigation contour. The technique was tested at the experimental site of the Field Experimental Station of the RGAU-MAA named after C.A. Timiryazev when growing early ripe potatoes of the «Udacha» variety. Irrigation water savings amounted to 16%. The application of the proposed method for calculating the irrigation rate, taking into account the shape of the moisture contour and its geometric parameters, depending on soil conditions and mineralization of irrigation water, will fully reveal the advantages of drip irrigation in saving irrigation water and preventing its filtration into deep soil layers.
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